Protecting Your Mental Health Throughout This Pandemic

Managing your mental health can be tricky at any time but the on-going COVID-19 outbreak is making things a little bit tougher. As well as facing the physical health risks that COVID-19 presents, many people are reporting that the pandemic has triggered or exacerbated mental health issues too.

Fortunately, there are ways you can minimize stress. To protect your mental health throughout this pandemic, take a look at these top tips now:

Understand the risk

There has been near-constant news coverage since the outbreak began but there has been lots of contradicting information surrounding COVID-19. Find an information source you trust and use it to learn more about the risks of the virus. By understanding how to reduce the risk of transmission, you can take positive steps to protect yourself and your family.

Limit your access to news

If you watch every news bulletin and follow trending topics on the internet, it can seem like we’re constantly surrounded by bad news. Of course, it’s not surprising that this can have a detrimental impact on your mental health. By stepping away and limiting your access to news, you can still stay up to date with what’s important, without letting it consume you.

Contribute to your community

Helping others, in any way you can, has a beneficial effect on your own life too. As Community Health Committee Chair for the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals Boards of Directors, Cynthia Telles, maintains, helping others benefits communities as a whole. By taking the time to support other people during this difficult time, you can enhance your own mental well-being.

Reframe your expectations

This year has been significantly different than any other, so try not to panic if you’re feeling overwhelmed or off-kilter. With many kids still attending school virtually and thousands of people still working from home, your entire life may have been thrown off balance due to COVID-19. Instead of comparing your current routine to your ‘normal life’, try to let go of your old expectations. When the way we live changes, our prior expectations are no longer applicable. By reassessing your expectations, you can minimize disappointment, worry, and stress.

Seek help when you need to

Many people have experienced mental health worries during the COVID-19 pandemic but there are plenty of ways to access help. As well as talking to friends and family members about your concerns, you can also schedule virtual appointments with therapists and counselors. Alternatively, reaching out to charitable organizations and community groups could be a great way to access any practical support you need at this time.

Prioritizing Your Mental Health

When your mental health is suffering, it impacts every area of your life. By putting your mental well-being first, you can enhance your physical health and your life as a whole. What’s more – you can enhance the lives of people around you too. If you want to improve your family life, increase your concentration at work, or simply change your outlook, focusing on your mental health can be the best place to start.